Posted by To Health By Choice added 20 new photos to the album: Healthstart Life Products.To Health By Choice shared Samantha Rayn Bachman's post.Like what you’re reading? Get FREE updates sent to your inbox.Email* I want to improve my...I want to improve my...WeightEnergyDigestionBrainOverall HealthAll of the AboveI hate spam too. Your email is safe with me.Regularly running a humidifier during winter is a tried-and-true solution for combating moisture-sapped air and its uncomfortable effects on your health and home. However, did you know that humidifiers also help alleviate the symptoms of common medical conditions, such as the common cold and the flu? So before you pack away that humidifier in summer storage, learn how it can help keep you healthy year-round. For easier accessibility to the sections in this article, use our topic list below: Humidifiers, by design, add moisture to the air to help raise your indoor humidity level, which can fall dramatically in the wintertime as a result of constant heating.

By restoring an ideal humidity level of 45 to 50%–the level recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)–your indoor environment may feel warmer, lessening the need to crank up the heat, and any moisture-sensitive furnishings in your home become better protected from damage. More importantly, humidifiers can eliminate and help prevent the uncomfortable physical effects of dry, wintry air such as: Coincidentally, some of the side effects caused by dry air are also common symptoms of medical ailments that can strike you at anytime during the year. These include the common cold, the flu, upper respiratory infections, and sinus infections. Humidifiers, when used in combination with doctor-prescribed or over-the-counter medications and when complemented by healthy living habits to treat these conditions, can help relieve your symptoms and make you more comfortable while you recover. According to the National Institutes of Health, increasing the humidity in your home when you're battling a cold, the flu, or a sinus infection helps moisturize your nasal and throat passages.

This helps drain excess mucus so you can breathe more clearly. In addition, when you're fighting a respiratory infection breathing humidified air can ease the dryness of your bronchial tubes and lungs, making it easier for air to pass through your breathing passages. Moreover, the American Academy of Pediatrics routinely recommends the use of humidifiers around young children and infants, who may have difficulty clearing breathing passages on their own, to treat upper respiratory infections. Humidifiers are also effective when used to alleviate allergic conditions and ease asthma flare-ups. Before you begin using a humidifier to help treat any medical ailment, be sure to choose the right one. Humidifiers are available in many types and sizes, including cool mist, warm mist, and ultrasonic as well as room humidifiers and whole house humidifier units. In addition, you may prefer a humidifier with extra features such as an onboard humidistat to continually measure the humidity of your room, multiple humidification speeds, digital controls, or ultraviolet light to provide germ protection.

Choosing a humidifier will depend largely on the size of your space and your personal preference for the type of mist output and special features. For extra safety, many doctors and consumer safety organizations recommend using a cool mist humidifier, such as the Pure Guardian H1000 Tabletop Humidifier, in a child's room. This is because warm mist humidifiers, which heat water to near boiling in order to produce a warm moisturizing mist, carry a possible risk of burns. However, adults might prefer using a warm mist humidifier, such as the Vicks V790 Germ Free Warm Mist Humidifier. edelbrock 4222 air cleanerThis model includes germicidal protection and incorporates a medicine cup, which allows you to add steam inhalants that soothe your breathing passages.blueair 698 sq. ft. 650e air purifier For more detailed information and tips for choosing a humidifier, read our Humidifier Buying Guide.edelbrock 1235 air cleaner

After you begin using your humidifier to help treat medical conditions, remember the importance of regular cleaning and maintenance. The consequences of not doing this could potentially make you sicker. According to the EPA and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the proper care and cleaning of humidifiers is important for reducing potential exposure to microorganisms. In other words, failing to clean a humidifier's components and change the water regularly may create a breeding ground for bacteria and germs that could be released into your air. Breathing in these germs can contribute to complications in your recovery or even spawn new medical conditions. To properly maintain your humidifier, follow these steps: For more detailed information about safely maintaining your humidifier, read our Tips for Maintaining Your Humidifier. Remember, only your doctor can provide the advice, recommendations, and tools to stave off colds, the flu, and other common illnesses for good.

However, with many trusted health organizations continuing to back the power of humidifiers for symptom relief, these tools will likely become an even more popular part of a healthy lifestyle. For more information on specific humidifiers and other ways to improve your indoor air, please review our extensive product listings and visit our Knowledge Center. Contact our product experts toll-free at 1 (800) 934-9194. We want to help make your indoor environment a healthy one.Using the bathroom can be a hazardous activity, especially if you are getting older or have mobility issues. In order to reduce the risk of falls and make it easier to use the shower, bath, and toilet, you may need the assistance of one or more grab bars installed in your home. Walgreens has a wide selection of products specifically designed to keep you safe in the bathroom. Easy to install and to use, these devices have the potential to be real life savers. Out of all the rooms in your home, the bathroom can be one of the most dangerous.

Studies have shown that many Americans sustain injuries in their bathrooms every year, and a majority of those injuries are caused by falling. Understandably, most bathroom-related injuries happen in the bath or shower--after all, a slippery floor can easily spell disaster if you find yourself on unsure footing. While seniors 65 and older tend to be more prone to bathroom falls, many people with mobility issues are also at risk. For this reason, it's important to have some sort of grab bar installed in the shower and around the toilet area to help reduce the risk of falls. Walgreens has a wide selection of horizontal, vertical, and diagonal grab bars that are specifically designed for fall protection. Individuals with disabilities and mobility issues often find that grab bars situated around the toilet, tub, and/or shower can give them the freedom to safely use the bathroom without assistance. Devices that can be placed around your toilet include side or rear-mounted grab bars attached to the wall, floor-mounted bars, and freestanding grab bars that allow you to easily lower yourself onto or raise yourself off of the toilet seat.

Horizontal grab bars in the bathtub make it easier for you to stand up, while safety rails that can be mounted on the side of the tub allow you to get in and out without worrying about falling. In the shower, you might pair a vertical or diagonal grab bar with a shower seat, or simply use these devices for added support if you have trouble standing for too long without assistance. Installing your grab bars correctly is as important as choosing the right devices in the first place. If the bar is intended to support someone with mobility issues, you need to involve that person during installation to make sure that everything is at the right height. Grab bars are usually installed either by screwing them into the wall or by using included suction cups to attach them. If you choose a grab bar that needs to be screwed in, you may want to hire a professional to ensure proper installation. If you choose to do it yourself, however, make sure never to anchor your grab bar in drywall. You need to screw it into your wall studs in order to prevent serious injury from the device coming loose.